Summary
The Brooklyn Nets' draft capital position is the product of multiple trades — the KD trade, the Bridges flip, the Kyrie trade, the Harden trade, the Rockets pick restructure, and the Cam Johnson trade. After using five first-round picks in the 2025 draft and trading some Suns picks to Houston, the Nets still control multiple first-round picks and swaps stretching to 2032.
Key Insights
- Used 5 first-rounders in the 2025 draft (Demin #8, Traore #19, Powell #22, Saraf #26, Wolf #27)
- In June 2024, the Nets traded the 2027 PHX first, a 2029 first, and 2029 swap right to Houston in exchange for getting their own 2026 first back and removing Houston's 2025 swap right on the BKN pick
- The Rockets trade reduced the Suns pick haul but secured the Nets' own future picks
- The 2032 Denver first (from the Cam Johnson trade) extends the timeline further than any other rebuilding team
Details
Picks Already Used (2025 Draft)
| Pick | Source | Player Drafted |
|---|---|---|
| #8 | Own pick | Egor Demin |
| #19 | Via Milwaukee (multi-team chain) | Nolan Traore |
| #22 | Via Atlanta (originally LAL/AD trade) | Drake Powell |
| #26 | New York Knicks (Bridges trade) | Ben Saraf |
| #27 | Houston Rockets (Harden trade, top-4 prot. lifted) | Danny Wolf |
Remaining First-Round Picks
2026
| Pick | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OWN | Brooklyn | Returned from Houston in June 2024 pick restructure |
2027
| Pick | Source | Protection | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYK | New York Knicks | Unprotected | Bridges trade |
| DAL | Dallas Mavericks | — | Kyrie trade |
2028
| Pick | Source | Type | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYK | New York Knicks | Swap | Bridges trade |
2029
| Pick | Source | Protection | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX | Phoenix Suns | Unprotected | KD trade (remaining) |
| NYK | New York Knicks | Unprotected | Bridges trade |
2031
| Pick | Source | Protection | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYK | New York Knicks | Unprotected | Bridges trade |
2032
| Pick | Source | Notes | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | Denver Nuggets | TBD | Cam Johnson trade |
Picks Traded Away (to Houston, June 2024)
- 2027 PHX first-round pick (originally from KD trade)
- 2029 first-round pick
- 2029 first-round pick swap right
- 2025 PHX first-round pick swap right
In exchange, the Nets received their own 2026 first back and removed Houston's right to swap the Nets' 2025 first-round pick.
Second-Round Picks Controlled
The Nets also hold multiple second-round picks from various trades:
| Year | Source | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ATL (via GSW) | Schroder trade (Dec 2024) |
| 2026 | BOS/IND/LAC/MIA (via HOU) | Seven-team KD trade (Jul 2025) |
| 2027 | LAL | Finney-Smith trade (Dec 2024) |
| 2028 | ATL (via GSW) | Schroder trade (Dec 2024) |
| 2029 | GSW | Schroder trade (Dec 2024) |
| 2030 | LAL | Finney-Smith trade (Dec 2024) |
| 2030 | BOS (via HOU) | Seven-team KD trade (Jul 2025) |
| 2030 | DAL | Ziaire Williams trade (Jul 2024) |
| 2031 | LAL | Finney-Smith trade (Dec 2024) |
These seconds are valuable for:
- Packaging with firsts in trades to sweeten offers
- Drafting developmental G League prospects
- Trading for veteran role players at the deadline
The Rockets Restructure Explained
The June 2024 Rockets trade was strategic: the Nets gave up future Suns picks to protect their own near-term lottery picks. Getting the 2026 first back means the Nets control their own pick during a tank year — critical for the rebuild. Removing the 2025 swap right protected the #8 pick (Egor Demin) from being swapped away by Houston.
Related
Open Questions
- How valuable will the remaining Knicks picks (2027, 2029, 2031) be as NY ages?
- Was trading the 2027 Suns first to Houston worth getting the 2026 own pick back?
- When does Sean Marks start packaging picks for a star?